May 6, 2010 AbilityOne Program Overview How to Leverage the Program to Fulfill Your Needs Eric Beale...

May 6, 2010

AbilityOne Program Overview

How to Leverage the Program to Fulfill Your Needs

Eric Beale – Committee for Purchase

Harlan Erker – National Industries for the Blind

David Brown – NISH

GSA Expo 2010

Program Mission

Provide employment opportunities for people who are blind or have other severe disabilities in the manufacturing and delivery of products and the provision of services required by Federal customers

Organizational Chart

President of the United States

Committee for Purchase From PeopleWho Are Blind or Severely Disabled

Chairperson

NISHNational IndustriesFor the Blind (NIB)

Nonprofit Agenciesemploying persons with

severe disabilities

Nonprofit Agenciesemploying persons

who are blind

CongressCommittee Members

DOCDOD

Air ForceArmyNavyDOJDOLED

GSAUSDA

VACitizenCitizenCitizenCitizen

Legal Authority

Committee Staff Responsibilities

• Establishing strategic direction for program• Creating/Maintaining Procurement List• Setting and revising Fair Market Prices• Designating Central Nonprofit Agencies (CNAs)• Making rules and regulations necessary to

administer the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act• Assisting Federal customers increase their

purchases under the program

NIB/NISH Responsibilities

• Oversee and assure nonprofit agency (NPA) contract compliance

• Solve problems; single point of contact for complaints or delivery issues

• Help educate customers• Represent NPAs to the Committee• Evaluate and report NPA qualifications and

capabilities to the Committee• Recommend suitable additions to the list

including the initial fair market price

NIB/NISH Responsibilities (cont.)

• Equitably distribute orders to NPAs

• Recommend price changes

• Ensure NPA compliance with Act

• Enter into contracts with federal agencies

• Increase awareness of the Program

Nonprofit Agency Responsibilities

• Manufacture and deliver products or perform services as assigned by the CNA

• Meet qualification for participation– 75% of direct labor hour performed by people who are

blind or severely disabled– Net income cannot benefit individual shareholder or

other individual

• Maintaining qualifications to continue to participate

• Meet other requirements of Federal contractors

Why is This Important?

• Over 17 million working-age adults are blind or severely disabled with only 38% of this population employed

• The AbilityOne Program serves people who cannot obtain or maintain employment on their own

• The AbilityOne Program is the single largest employer of Americans who are blind or have other severe disabilities

Customer Focus

• Federal Government is the AbilityOne Customer

– The AbilityOne Team must balance the needs of the Government and the employment needs of people who are blind or have other severe disabilities

– Preferred Source vs. Mandatory Source– Provide Solutions

Benefits to the Government

• Quality products and services, on-time delivery

• Fair market prices, best value procurement

• National network of solutions providers

• Long-term relationships• Moral satisfaction in

helping people to help themselves

Federal Customer’s Role

• Your support is critical to the success of AbilityOne

– Not limited to contracting personnel– Includes purchase card holders, agency program

officials, and functional managers

• Key role in Procurement List additions; ongoing role as consumer and advocate

How does AbilityOne work with Federal Customers?

• Partner with Federal customers to increase customer satisfaction and loyalty, and become their preferred source for products and services

• Increase customer satisfaction– Responsiveness, consistency, reliability, quality,

timeliness, and price

• Establish collaborative plans

Benefits to the Employee who is Blind or Severely Disabled

• Wide range of employment opportunities

• Long-term work experience

• Marketable job skills• Equitable wages and

benefits, plus a chance to advance

• A measure of independence

May 6, 2010

QUESTIONS?

April 19, 2023

Buyer’s Guide for SKILCRAFT® and Other AbilityOne Products –

How to Get the Quality, Value and Convenience You Need

Harlan Erker

National Industries for the Blind

GSA Expo 2010

What Products Can I Buy?

• Chemical Supplies• Cleaning Products• Clocks• Clothing• Computer Accessories• Disposable Paper

Products• Furniture• Kitchen & Break Room

Supplies• Mattress & Bedding

• Medical Supplies• Military/Combat Clothing• Office Supplies• Paint & Accessories• Personal Care & Safety• Picture Frames• Safety & Maintenance

Items• Shipping & Packaging

Supplies• Writing Instruments

Office and Cleaning Products

“Green” Products

• Biodegradable paper cups

• Process Chlorine Free (PCF) office paper

• Pens made from recycled materials

• Disposable cutlery• Environmental

cleaning agents

Custom Products

• Awards and recognition items

– Plaques– Pen sets

• Clocks• Military picture

frames• Stamps

Safety & Personal Care

• First aid kits• Fire hoses• Flashlights• Gloves• Nonskid deck covering• Traffic safety clothing

items

Government Unique Products

• Military Police Belts• Gloves for the TSA and VA• Services Dress Clothing

– Slacks– Trousers– Shirts– Blouses

• Food– Military ration components– Bakery mix and cake mixes– Instant beverage mix

Micro-Purchase Limits

Is AbilityOne still a required source if I only buy small amounts with my purchase card?

– Yes, the AbilityOne

Program is applicable at

any dollar amount– No exemptions for

micro-purchases

How to Buy AbilityOne Products –

Off-the-Shelf Items

• GSA Global Supply www.GSAglobalsupply.gsa.gov

• GSA Advantage!® www.gsaadvantage.gov

• DoD EMALL www.emall.dla.mil

• Multiple Award Schedule Holders - Authorized AbilityOne Distributors

• Base Supply Centers• www.abilityone.com

http://www.gsaglobalsupply.gsa.gov/

http://www.gsaadvantage.gov/

http://www.emall.dla.mil/

http://www.abilityone.com/

AbilityOne Procurement List

• Official list of all AbilityOne items

• Maintained by the Committee for Purchase

• Identifies name and National Stock Number (NSN) or commercial name for each product

• Access the list: www.abilityone.gov

http://www.abilityone.gov/

April 19, 2023

QUESTIONS?

April 19, 2023

AbilityOne Unique Products and Services Requirements

David Brown NISH

GSA Expo 2010

U.S. Military Industrial Base

AbilityOne products are an important part of the U.S. military industrial base:

– Chemical and Biological Protective Apparel and Equipment Systems

– Dress and Battle Uniforms (BDU, ACU, ABU)

– Subsistence Items such as MRE Components and special Navy packaging for shipboard use

– Energy Dissipating Pads to cushion the fall of air-dropped humanitarian aid items

Industrial Base Balance

• AbilityOne understands and supports DOD agencies’ need to balance their purchases across multiple sources to ensure a healthy industrial base

• Multiple AbilityOne manufacturing agencies can serve as back-ups and surge capacity

• AbilityOne will grant purchase exceptions as needed to enable the government to purchase critically needed items outside our capacity

AbilityOne and DoD

• Current Large Volume Items– DeCA

• Military Resale• Commissary Shelf Stocking

– DSCR/DSCC• Belts and Straps• Battery and Lighting Acquisition, Storage, Repackaging and

Distribution

– DAU Detail Program • Acquisition AbilityOne curriculum online

What Services Can I Buy?

• Admin support• Braille production• Facilities Management• Food service• Grounds maintenance• Secure Document

Services which includes: -- Document Mgmt. -- Secure Mailroom services -- Secure Documentation -- Destruction

• Janitorial/custodial• Laundry• Order Processing• Recycling• Fleet Management &

Maintenance• Warehousing/Distribution• TeleServices (call centers,

customer service, hot lines, etc.)

• Healthcare Environmental Services

Do I Have to Buy from AbilityOne?

• FAR Part 8• Required source if on Procurement List

– Services – first priority– Products – first priority after FPI Schedule– Applies to micro-purchases

• Purchase exceptions may be requested, if– NPAs cannot meet contract requirements or

timeframes.

AbilityOne Unique Military Products

• Provide Soldier, Airman, Sailors, and Marine Battle and Dress Uniforms (these items created the highest number of new jobs for FY2008)

• Warfighter items, helmet components, ID kits, Vehicle side racks, “Navy-pack” dry food mixes

• Mattresses for submarines and ships• Medical items

AbilityOne Unique Services

• Facility Operations Support Services• Full Food Services (DoD, FBI, DEA…)• Facilities Management ( DoD• Vehicle Up-fitting (DHS)• Switchboard Operations (VA)• Uniforms (Forest)• Document Destruction• Consolidated Secure Mailrooms (DHS)

Government-Unique Items• Batteries• Emergency Light

Markers• Head Lanterns• Flashlights• Terminal Adapters• Tire Inflator Gauge• Mechanic’s Creeper

Battle-board ID KitsSeat CushionsAircraft Cargo Tie DownKits, Nets and StrapsOil Sample BottleFuel Tank FoamTire Inflator GaugeRakes

Additional Capabilities

• Assembly• Kitting• Fulfillment• Distribution

How Do I Order Services?

• Services are specific to the customer and location(s) added to the Procurement List

– Standard procurement process with certain exceptions

– Nonprofit agencies follow the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

– If additional services are needed outside of the scope of the Procurement List, must add new work to the Procurement List

Customer satisfaction is the key to keeping people employed, so…

AbilityOne

Customer Satisfaction

Performance+

Value=

Customer Satisfaction=

Jobs

April 19, 2023

QUESTIONS?

Committee Contact Information

Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled

1421 Jefferson Davis HighwayJefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800 Arlington, VA 22202-3259Phone: (703) 603-7740Fax: (703) 603-0655E-Mail: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Presenter Information

Eric Beale

Committee for Purchase From PeopleWho Are Blind or Severely Disabled1421 Jefferson Davis HighwayJefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800 Arlington, VA 22202-3259Phone: (703) 603-2119Fax: (703) 603-0655E-Mail: [email protected]

NIB Contact Information

National Industries for the Blind (NIB) 1310 Braddock Place

Alexandria, Virginia 22314-1691

Phone: (703) 310-0500

Fax: (703) 998-8268

www.nib.org

http://www.nib.org/

Nish Contact Information

NISH8401 Old Courthouse Road

Vienna, Virginia 22182

Phone: (571) 226-4660

Fax: (703) 849-8916

www.nish.org

http://www.nish.org/

May 6, 2010 AbilityOne Program Overview How to Leverage the Program to Fulfill Your Needs Eric Beale...

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